Spring-forming device



Sept. 16, 1930. v c, PETERS'ON 1,776,082

SPRING FORMING DEVICE Filed July 26, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invenior: Cow-Z Peierson Sept. 16, 1930. c. PETERSON 1,776,082

SPRING FORMING DEVICE Filed July 26. 1926 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lma F 3 8 W 9 o o o o o o o o o o 0 p M l L I h||l Inventor.- Cari/Peterson 21 +4? I y" Sept. 16, 1930. c, PETERSON SPRING FORMING DEVICE a, Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 26. 1926 v Invenior:

Earl Peierso/n Y b 5 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNETED STATE-S PATENT OFFICE CARL PETERSON, OF JAMAICA PLAIN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGELAW- RENCE, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS SPRING-FCRMING nnvron Application filed J'u1y'26, 1926.

This invention aims to provide improvements in'a spring-forming and spring-tempering device particularly adapted for. making spring leaves either for quantity production or for repair work." The claims in this application are directed to the springforming device.

Reference is hereby made to a divisional of this application Serial No. 234,126, filed November 18, 1927, the claims of which are directed to the combination of the spring forming and tempering device.

In the drawings, which illustrate a ferred embodiment of my invention Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine, showing the tank in cross-section, one spring-forming device being in position for tempering a spring leaf and another device in position for receiving and forming a heated spring leaf;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation view of a spring-pressing member showing a portion of the cross-bar and adjusting screw;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4.l of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectionon the line 66 of Fig. 1, showing the locking means and adjusting means for the die members; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section onthe line 77 of Fig. 1, showing the means for adjusting one of the flexible spring-pressing members.

Referring to the embodiment of myinvention illustrated by the drawings, 1 have shown a machine for forming and tempering leaf springs, and particularly, though not exclusively, leaf springs for use on all kinds of vehicles. The machine as illustrated in Fig. 1 includes an oil tank 1, into which is placed a frame, supporting the working parts ofthe machine. The framelias a baseQ resting upon the bottom of the tank 1, upright posts 3 at the sides and a top part 4, which ties the posts 3 together. These posts 3 provide guides for three sliding cross-bars 5, 6 and 7, the purposes ofwhich are to provide supports for various parts which form the means for bending the spring leaves into a desired form.

The lower cross-bar? carries the die means PIG- Serial No. 125,113.

, provided with rack teeth 11," cooperating with pinions 12, as shown in Fig. 6. The pinions are carried by rotatable shafts 13 mounted in the cross-bar 7. At the outer end of each shaft 13, I have provided a ratchet wheel 14 cooperating with a spring-actuated pawl .15 mounted upon the cross-bar 7. Thus, I have provided means whereby each die member is locked against downward movement when pressure is applied thereto, while being readily adapted to move upwardly and held in any position to which it may be elevated. Each pawl has a finger portion 16 which enters a slot in'a slidable pawl shifting lever 17 normally moved in one direction by a spring 17*. The shifting lever may be operated by means of the handle 17 to release all of the pawls at one time so that the die members 9 may automatically drop, bygravity, against spring bumper means 17 located below the. ends of the stems 10 so that the die members may not strike against the upper face of the cross-bar 7.

The middle cross-bar 6 supports the means for pressing the spring leaf against the dies 9,

The means illustrated in the drawings in clude two longitudinally movable self-adjusting members 18, 18 adapted to act upon the end portions of the spring leaf, as shown in Fig. 1, and a plurality of spring-pressed pivotally supported jaw members 19 adapted to press against the central portion of the spring 7 leaf. The spring-engaging portions of the members 18 and 19 are formed from, a plurality of relatively short thin links spaced apart and having a narrow edge so as to contact with as little of the surface of the spring as possible. The links are pivoted relative to each other so that they may conform substantially'to the bend of the spring leaf.

The third cross-bar 5 is connected to the middle cross-bar 6 by a toggle link arrangement 19 and has pivoted thereon a pair of latch members 20, 20 adapted to hook into engagement with the top plate' i for purposes movement between these cross-bars.

cross-bar 6, as will be hereinafter described.

in connection with the operation of the machine. a j t To actuate the togglelinks'which connect trally located vertical sliding rack rod 22, guided in the top plate 4 and-cooperating with a pinion 23. The toggle link arrangement '19 is connected to the rack rod 22 by links .23 and these links operate the toggle links to move the barfi when the rack. bar is moved upwardly or. downwardly as more fully hereinafter described.

Any -suitable'means may be provided for turning the pinion 23, but I have shown four pulleys 24, 25, 26 and 27 mounted upon a shaft 28 supported in bearing posts 29 and 30 bolted to the top plate 4 as shown in Fig. 1. The pulleys24 and 27 may be driven by the belts 31 and 32, the other pulleys 25 and 26 merely being idle on the shaft 28. The shaft 28 also carries a pinion 33 which meshes with a gear 34 carried by the sameshaft 35 which carries the pinion 23- for .driving'the 'rack rod 22. Suitable belt shift means 36 is shown supported in a convenient manner for shifting the belts when the operator wishes to drive the rack rod 22 in either an upward or a downward direction.

While thus far I have described a single mechanism which may be used for forming and tempering spring leaves, I have illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a machine which includes two of such mechanisms driven from the same driving means so that one spring leaf may be tempered while another spring leaf is being formed. Therefore two sets of uprights 3 are provided upon whichare mounted two sets of cross-bars 5, 6 and 7 and the parts carried thereby, as above described.

By providing a double machine, I not only speed up production and providecompactness, but one spring-forming mechanism balances the other and both operate together. To this end, I provide an upper set of chains 37 connected to the top cross-bars 5, 5 and operatingaround sprocket wheels 38and' a lower'set ofchains 39 connected tofthe lower cross-bars 7, 7 and operating on sprocket wheels 40, as shown in Fig. 1. These chains and sprocket wheels cooperate to move one unit up while pulling the other unit down during certain periods of operation of the machine which will be more fully hereinafter described.

In order to provide safety to the machine so that it cannot be'operated accidentally while the operator is'pla'eing a-spring leaf in mally pressthe yokes downwardly.

position or positioning the die members 9, I have provided locking means for preventing operation of the driving mechanism. The locking means selected for illustration includes a notched wheel 41, carried by the shaft 35, and cooperating with a latch 42 which may spring into the notch 43 in the wheel 41 as shown in Fig. 1, thereby effectively preventing turning of the gears even though the belt shifter 36 shouldbe operated.

A rocker shaft 44 is mounted on the frame the cross-bars 5 and 6, I have provided a .cen-

of the machine just beneath the top plate 4 and carries a cam 45 which engages the tail 42 of the latch42so that, when the shaft is rocked by pulling upon the wire 46, the latch 42 may be released from the wheel 41 andthe machine may be operated. If the operator moves the belt shifter 36 to move the belts 31 and 32 on to the pulleys 24 and 27 before pulling the wire 46 to release the latch 42, the belts 31 and 32 will merely slip around the pulleys 24 and 27 without driving them, because the safety locking means is strong enough to hold the driving means against rotation. After the machine has been started, thewire 46 may be released and the operation of the machine may continue until the latch again snaps into the notch 43'.

Each of the self-adjusting members 18 is provided with a block 47 slidably mounted at the lower side of the cross-bar 6, a shoe 48 suspended from the block by springs 49 and 50'secured to a link 51 pivoted upon the block. The means for sliding each member 18 includes a threaded shaft 52 passing through an ear 53 at the side of the block and a hand wheel 54 connected through suitable gearing as shown in Fig. 7, to the shaft 52. Each shoe 48 is made up of a number of links securedtogether so that the shoe is more or less flexible and may conform with the dies 9 when pressing a spring leaf thereagainst,

as above described. The springs 49 and 50 are in the form of spring leaves and are so arranged that the shoe 48 is normally held in an angular position with'the outer end of the shoe tipped downwardly. One of the ends of the spring 49 is secured to the shoe 48 while the other end is secured to one end of a link 55. The other end of the link is pivoted at the inner end of the shoe 48, as shown in 3. The free ends of the spring 50 bear against the under side of the block 47 and may slide against the block during the pressing operation of forming thespring leaf, as hereinafter described.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows a cross-section through the block '56 mounted on the cross-bar 6, I have shown a pair of sliding parts 57, 57 carrying apart 58 Which supportsthe yokes 59 upon which the mem bers 19 are pivoted, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2. The yokes 59 are slidable in the part 58 and springs 60 (Fig. 2) are provided to nolrlower end of the rack rod 22 is also guided in the block 56 and carries a pair of pawls 61, 61 pivotally mountedin slots cut in the sides of the rod adjacent its end, as shown in Fig. 5. These pawls 61, 61 are normally pressed out wardly by a spring 62, so that when they are free from the edges 63, 63 of the block 56, they may engage teeth cut in the sliding parts 57, 57 in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter described in connection with the operation of the machine. Stop pins 64, 64: are provided at the upper ends of the sliding parts 57 57'to limit the downward movement of the part 58.

The tank 1, as best indicated in Fig. 2, has a pair of removable pans 65, 65 located in thespace between the, edges of the base 2 beneath the forming mechanism to catch any scale or dirt which may drop from the spring leaves or other parts of the machine into the oil. Side plates 66 are provided to direct the scale or dirt from the sides of the tank into these pans. Thus the tank may be readily and quickly, cleaned at any time by drawing off the oil and removing and cleaning the pans and sides. At the upper front and rear edgesof thetank, I provide shelves 67, 67 upon which the spring leaves may be placed either before or after forming and tempering, and'holes 68 are provided therein so that the oil from the spring leaves may drain back into the tank. 7

When operating the machine, the oil is kept cool by circulation and thisis done by drawing the oil through the pipe 69 at the top of the tank, cooling it, and passing it back to the tank through the pipe 7 at the bottom of the tank. j

In illustrating the machine, I-have shown in Figs. 1' and 2, two positions of the means for pressing the spring leaves. The front mechanism, as viewed in Fig. 1, shows a spring leaf pressed to the desired form and submerged in the oil bath in the tank. The

rear mechanism is shown in position for ad justing the die members 9 and for receiving the hot spring leaf 71. In the position of the parts of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, the machine is locked so that it cannotbe oper ated accidentally while the operator is adjusting the die members 9 or placing the spring leaf 71 in position.

Assuming that the parts of the machine are in the positions shown in Figs; 1 and 2, the operation is as follows: First, the operator adjusts the die members 9 to the desired form to which the spring leaf is to be bent. For this purpose a templet may be used, if desired, and a rough adjustment of the dies9 may be made by lifting them by hand. However, to secure a fine adjustmentof a die memher, it is preferable to turn the shaft 13, to which the ratchet wheel 14 and gear 12 are secured, by the use ofa socket wrench which may be engaged over a nut 72 at the end of the shaft 13. When the dies 9 are set to the proper form for the spring leaf, as shown by the mechanism at the rear of the machine (Figs. 1 and 2), the hot spring leaf 71 may be placed in position. over the die members as shown. The center die member is provided with a pin 73 (Fig. 2), which passes through the bolt hole 7 4 in the spring to provide centering means for the leaf, and spring-pressed spring-engaging fingers 75 mounted on the cross-bar 7 press against the edges of the leaf to keep it in alignment with the die members or templet as shown. in Figs. 1 and 2. When leaves are being formed without a center bolt hole, the center die member may be replaced by a plain die member as the pin 7 3 would interfere' in forming a spring withouta bolt release the locking means,'and then moving the handle of the belt shifter so as to shift 1 the belts 31 and 32 onto the pulleys 24 and 26 as shown in Fig. 1, thereby to turn the shaft 28 and operate the various gears which supply the motive power for moving the rack rods 22. The latches 20, being hooked into engagement with the top plate 1?, prevent downward movement of'the cross-bar 5, and the cross-bar 7, being rigidly connected to the bar 5 by the strips 21, is therefore also initially held against movement. Therefore the initial downward movement of the rack rod 22 will operate through the links 23 to straighten the toggle links 19 and move the bar 6 toward the bar 7.- During this movement, the shoes 48 of the members '18 and the members 19 are broughtinto Contact with the spring leaf 71 at substantially the same time. As the bar 6 continues toward the bar 7, the shoes 48 of the members 18 press the outer ends of the spring leaf 71 against the dies 9. The action of these members 18 is a crawling 'or creeping one because of the peculiar arrangement of the springs" 49 and 50 and the angle of the shoe 48. Thus,

as the spring leaf 71 becomes more and more compressed, the shoes 48 move toward the ends of the spring 71, and draw the spring leaf 71 outwardly from the center so that it will conform with the dies 9' and thereby prevent any bulging action between the members 18 and 19. Further downward movement of the rack rod 22, which up to this time has been sliding freely in the block 56, moves the pawls 61 (Fig. 5) past the cor- 1;- the notch 78.

11ers 63 so that they may engage the teeth on the sliding parts 57 as shown. Upon continued movement of the rack rod 22 after engagement of the pawls 61, the part 58 is forced downwardly, thereby compressing the springs surrounding the yokes 59 and pressing the jaw members 19 firmly against the central portion of the spring leaf 71 and holding it firmly against the dies 9. V

The lost motion between the rack rod 22 and the jaw members 19 provided by the springs 60 after the pawls 61 are engaged with the teeth on the sliding parts 57, permits releasing of the latches 20 after the spring leaf 71 has been compressed to its properform against the diemembers 9. The releasing action is effected by engagement of the toggle links 19 with the lower portions 76 of the latchimembers 20 to swing the latches about their pivots and release them from engagement with the top plate 4 of the machine. 7

Just prior to the release of the pawls 61, the locking pawl 77, pivoted atthe back of a the block 56, may engage a notch 78 cut into the rack bar 22, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the pawls 61 are released the parts are held in clamped position and cannot be released. until the pawl 77 is withdrawn from When the cross-bars reach their lowest position in the tank 1, the pawl 77 is released by the eye 79 at the end of the rod 80, which passes through a hole in the pawl member 7 7 as shown in the'mechanism at the left in Fig. 2. Thus when the mechanism at the right is operated 'to clamp a heated spring leaf, the cross-bar 6 may be raised while the cross-bar 7 and spring remain in thetempering bath in the tank 1.

During the period of pressing the spring leaf 71 at the rear of themachine, the rack cured by the chains 37 and 39, the downward movement of onemechanism will pull the other mechanism up out of the oil so that the operator may take the. spring leaf from the form and lay it upon the shelf 67 ig. 2) to drain whileplacing a new leaf in position to be formed. The operation then continues as described.

With the machine described, any number of spring leaves may be formed exactly alike or the dies 9 may be easily and quickly reset to make a different leaf at eachoperation ofthe machine. Thus the machine is equally useful for production worker for repair work. I

The peculiar arrangement and formation of the parts which are used. to form the spring leaves are simple in construction and operation and are adapted to be so arranged that spring leaves of variouscurves and angles may be made without changing any of the-parts of the machine. I While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular arrangement and formation of parts, my invention being best defined in the following claims.

Claims: l. A spring-forming device including means providing a form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, and a plurality of flexible spring-pressing members each independent of the other and resilient supports upon which said spring-pressing members are mounted to permit each member independently to press a portion of the spring leaf against the said form, thereby to form spring leaves of various shapes by means of the same flexible spring-pressing members.

2. A spring-forming device means providing an adjustable form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, a plurality of self-adjusting resiliently mounted springpressing members, and means for adjusting said members toward and away from each other, each member adapted to press a portion of the spring'leaf against said form independently of the form which the other member or members may assume and each member adapted to conform substantially with said form when the spring leaf is fully compressed. a

3. A spring-forming device including means providing an adjustable form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, aplurality of self-adjusting resiliently mounted spring-pressing members, and means for ad justing said members toward and away from each other, each member adapted to make an outwardly sliding contact with the spring leaf as the leaf is pressed against the form thereby to'prevent any bulging action of the spring during the forming operation of said device. 7 j r I 4. A spring-forming device comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of sliding cross bar members movable togetheror separately relative to said frame, a number of closely arranged die-presenting members independent of each other and carried by one of said sliding crossbar members having die members pivotally mounted thereon, said die-presenting members being independently adjustable relative to the crossbar by which they are carried whereby a desired form for a spring leafmay be provided andself-adjustincluding ing spring leaf pressing means carried by the other of said sliding members whereby the spring leaf may be pressed tightly against the form provided by the pivoted die members carried by the first mentioned sliding crossbar member thereby to press the spring leaf into the desired form.

5. A spring-forming device including means providing an adjustable form to which a spring leaf may be shaped, resiliently supportedj aw means forengagement with the central portion of the spring and a resiliently mounted member at each side of said aw means tipped at an angle so as to make a sliding contact with the spring leaf thereby to prevent bulging of the leaf at the spaces between the jaw means and resiliently mounted members.

6. A spring-forming device comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of sliding cross bar members movable together or separately relative to said frame, means carried by one of said sliding members and adjustablerelative thereto whereby a desired form for a spring leaf may be provided and a plurality of self-adjusting members carried by: the other of said sliding members and means carried by said frame for moving said other sliding member toward said first mentioned sliding member which is held stationary, thereby to press said spring leaf into the shape provided by said form.

7 A spring-forming device comprising, in combination, a frame, three cross-bar members mounted upon said frame, the middle crossbar being adjustable relative to the other cross-bars and said other cross-barsbeing immovable relative to each other, operating means connected between one of said cross-bars and the middle bar to providefor the adjustment thereof and form-providing and spring-forming means provided between said middle cross-bar and one of the other of said bars to clamp a heated spring leaf there between when said operating 'means is straightened.

8. A spring-forming device comprising, in combination, a frame, three sliding cross-bar membersmounted upon said frame, the middle cross-bar being movable relative to the other cross-bars and said other cross-barsbe? ing immovable relative to each other, toggle (iii means connected between the top movable bar and the middle bar to provide for the adjustment thereof, a plurality of adjustable die members carried by the third cross-bar to provide any suitable form to which itis desired to press a spring leaf and resiliently mounted self-adjusting spring-pressing members acting independently of each other to press a spring leaf into the form to which said dies have been arranged.

9. A spring-forming device comprising, in combination, a frame, three sliding cross-bar members mounted upon said frame, the middle cross-bar being movable relative to the other cross-bars and said other cross-bars being immovable relativeto each other, toggle means connected between the ,top movable one of said cross-bars and themiddle bar to provide for the pressure between the bars to shape hot plates to f0rm,a vertically sliding bar, link means connecting said vertically sliding bar with said toggle means, a plu rality of adjustable die members carried by the third cross-bar member toprovide any suitable form to which it is desirable to press a heated spring leaf and resiliently supported self-adjusting spring-pressing members carried by said middle bar to be moved toward said third bar to press the springleaf into the form presented by said die members, one of said resiliently supported members having a lost motion connection with said vertically sliding bar and an automatic adjuste mentto take up said lost motion. i

10. A spring-forming device including means providing an adjustable form 1 to which a spring leaf may be shaped, resiliently supported j aw means for engagement with the central portion of thespring and .a resiliently mounted member at each side of said jaw means tipped at an angle so as to make a sliding contact-with the spring leaf thereby to prevent bulging of the leafat the space between the jaw means and reliliently mounted members, said jawmeans adapted to restby gravity upon said spring leaf while said other members are pressing the spring against said form and means for engagement with said jaw means upon completion ,of

the pressing action of said othermembers thereby to press said jaw means tightly against the central portion of the springleaf;

11. A spring-forming device comprising,

in combination, an upright frame, three cross-bar members arranged upon said frame, the upper and lower bars be ng mmovablerelative to each other while the middle'bar is movable relative to the others, spring-forming means provided by the middle and lower 7 bars, toggle means connecting the middle and upper bars and means acting upon said toggle means for sliding said middle bar toward and away from said lower bar thereby to form a spring leaf inthe spring-formmgmeans K- I" W 12.v A spring-forming devicehaving ad-. justable die members for providing a form against which aspring leaf maybe pressed, means supporting said die members, means whereby each die may be adjusted independently and means whereby all of said dies may be returned from an adjusted position to a 7 normal position 'by a single operation.

13. A spring formmg device having adjustable die members for providing a form against'which aspring leaf may bepressed,

means supporting said die members, rack and pinion :means for rais ng and lowerlng the dies, ratchet and pawl means for holding the dies'in adjusted positions and pawl-re-Q leasing means acting upon all of the pawls at one time to lower all of the dies by a single movement of the pawl-releasing means.

14:. A spring-forming device having adjustable die members for providing a form against which a spring leaf may be pressed, means for supporting said die members, a plurality of spring-pressing members for forcing a heated spring leaf against said diemembers, a support for said spring-pressing members, a block carried by said support, a rod'having one end slidable in said block, one of said spring-pressing members slidable in said block, and latch means carried by said rod for engagement with said spring-pressing member to lock said rod and said sliding" member together and force said sliding member against the spring leaf subsequent to said other spring-pressing members; being pressed against the spring leaf.

15. A spring-forming device comprising, in" combination, an upright frame, three cross-bar members arranged upon said frame, the upper and lower bars being immovable relative to'each other while the middle bar is movable relative to the others, spring-press" said toggle'means is operatedto move said middle bar toward the lower-- bar, said latch -means being adapted to be released by said toggle means, a'latch carriedby said operating rod for engagement with said slidable spring-- pressing member at a predetermined time be fore the latch means have been unlatched by the toggle means thereby to move said slid-' able spring-pressing member with said operating rod so that it may be moved toward said lower bar during the unlatching operation.

16; A spring-forming device having a plurality of independent spring-bending members,a support for said members, each member'presenting a shoe for engagement with the spring leaf, a spring suspension between the shoe and the support, and a link between the shoe and the spring suspension to permit crawling movement of said shoe when being pressed against a spring'leaf.

17 A spring-forming device having a plu-' rality of independent spring-bending members, a support for said members, each member presenting a flexible shoe normally pOs'itioned so that one end of the shoe will contact with aspring leaffirst when being pressed against the leaf, a spring suspensionbetwe'en the shoe and the support, a pivoted link betweenthe spring suspension and the support and a link connecting the upper end of the shoe with one end of the spring suspension to assist in the crawling action between the shoe and the spring leaf when the shoe is pressed against the leaf thereby to permit the shoe to conform to the curve of the spring leaf.

18. A spring-forming device including means providing an adjustable form to'which a spring leaf may be shaped, a plurality of self-adjusting resiliently mounted spring. pressing members, means for adjusting said members toward and away from each other, each member adapted to press a portion-of the spring leaf against said form independently of the form which the other member or members may assume and each member adaptedto conform substantially with said formwhen the spring leaf is fully compressed, relatively movable members for supporting said form-providing means and said spring-pressing members and means for moving said relatively movable members together to clamp the spring betwen the spring-form ing devices. 1 I

, 19. A spring-forming device including means providingform to which a spring leaf is to be shaped, a spring-pressingmem-- ber including a 7 shoe portion resilientlymounted so as to makea sliding contact with a spring leaf when the leaf is being pressed between'the means providing 'the'form' and the spring-pressing member, and adjusting means whereby said spring-pressing member may be moved'lengthwise relative 'to the means providing the" form. 1 r 20. A spring-formingv device including form means to which a spring leaf may be shaped, spring-pressing jaw means'for engagement with a spring leaf to press it tightly against the'form means, a support for said jaw means, said jaw means being normally slidabl'e relative thereto and lost motion means cooperating with said support to lock said jaw meansagainst sliding' moveme'nt relative to said support.

' 21. A spring bending member for spring forming devices comprising, in combination,

ajointed-flexible shoe" formed by a number of'associated links,= a carrier, a spring suspensi'on bet'weenthecarrier and the shoe, and a link pivotally connecting the shoe and the spring suspension; j

22. Aspring-bending member for springformingdevices comprising, in combination, a jointed flexible shoe formed by a number of associated links, a carrier, a springsuspension between the carrier and theshoe, and a link pivotally connecting the springsuspension and the carrier.-

23; A springfbendingmember for springforming devices--comprising,-in combination, a flexible shoe, a carrier, a spring suspension between the carrier and the shoe, a link pivot allv connectin the shoe and the spring sus pension, and a link pivotally connecting the spring suspension and the carrier to permit lengthwise shifting movement of the shoe relative to the carrier.

24. A spring-bending member for a spring forming device comprising a spring-bending shoe, a carrier for said shoe, a spring suspension between the shoe and the carrier, pivotal link means connecting the shoe and spring suspension and other pivotal link means connecting the spring suspension and carrier to permit lengthwise movement of the shoe relative to the carrier. 7

25. In a leaf spring-forming machine a presser member formed by a number of associated pivotal links and adaptedfor applying pressure to a spring being formed, said presser being mounted for creeping movement while applying pressure to the spring.

26. In aleaf spring forming machine, flexible pressers for applying pressure to a spring being formed, a support for said pressers, spring suspension means located between the support and ,pressers to permit creeping move ment of said pressers while applying pressure to the spring, and adjusting means for moving said pressers toward or away from one another to accommodate the pressers to springs of various lengths.

27. In a spring leaf forming machine, a plurality of pivoted die members attached to vertically adjustable means carried by a support, said dies being adapted to adjust themselves to the spring being formed, means permitting free adjustment of the vertically adjustable means in one direction so that all the dies may be quickly positioned to provide a form to which it is desired to press a spring, said means preventing movement of the dies in the opposite direction.

plurality of pivoted die members adapted to adjust themselves'to the spring being formed, means permitting free adjustment of the die members in one direction so that all the dies may be quickly positioned to provide a form to which it is desired to press a spring, said means preventing movement of the dies inthe opposite direction, and means whereby said dies may be released one at a time or collectively. r

29. A spring forming machine including a spring pressing mechanism for forming a leaf spring, supporting means for-said mechanism, latch means forholding said pressing mechanism in a fixed relation to said supporting means, operating means for reciprocating a portion of'said pressing mechanism to provide for forming a spring leaf, said operatporting means subsequent to forming the leaf spring.

30. A spring forming machine including form means, presser means for pressing a spring leaf to conform with said form means,

locking means for locking said form means and presser means together when the spring leaf has been pressed therebetween and means for unlocking sald locking means upon a predetermined movement of said forming and v members mounted upon said frame, the mid dle cross-bar being movable relative to the other cross-bars and said other cross-bars being immovable relative to each other, toggle means connected between one of said crossbars and the middle bar to provide the pressure necessary to form the spring leaf, a slid-' ing bar, links connecting said sliding bar with said toggle means, a plurality of adjustable die members carried by the third cross-bar member to provide any suitable form to which it is desirable to press a heated spring leaf-and resiliently supported self-adjusting springpressing members carried by said middle bar to be moved toward said third bar to press the spring leaf into the form presented by said dielmembers, and means carried by saidsliding bar for engagement with one of said resiliently supported members upon a given movement of said bar. 28. In a spring leaf forming machine, a

'33. A spring-forming device comprising a supporting frame, a pair of crossbar members supported by said frame, means operable to move one crossbar member relative to the other, asnumber of adjustable form elements carried by one of said crossbar members, means whereby each form element may be adjusted independently of the others to provide for any desired shape to which'a spring leaf may be bent, locking means operableto 'lock'the form elements in various adjusted positions andyieldable spring leaf bending means carried by the other crossbar member for pressing "a spring leaf to the shape pro-.

vided by the form elements.

In testimony whereof, "I have signed my 7' name to this specification;

a CARL PETERSON.

ing mechanism being adaptedto release said latch means and permit sliding movement of said pressing mechanism relative to said sup- 

